Nottingham Forest are on the lookout for solidity under Sean Dyche and could now be set to make an intriguing move courtesy of owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The Tricky Trees had a fairly ominous start to the Premier League campaign that culminated in the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo, which was followed by Ange Postecoglou’s short tenure at the City Ground that ended under acrimonious circumstances.

Now, Dyche is the man at the helm and there is a feeling that improvement is starting to take shape on the River Trent, characterised in clear fashion by their convincing victory over Leeds United before the international break.

Ultimately, Forest are still in the relegation zone and have their work cut out to ensure they survive in the top-flight this campaign, though the fact that players such as Elliot Anderson are earning rave reviews from Thomas Tuchel is a reason for some optimism in the East Midlands.

Paying tribute to the Three Lions midfielder, the England coach labelled him as ‘one of the best midfielders in the Premier League’ before a routine victory in World Cup qualifying over Serbia, emphasising the value of his services that the Tricky Trees have at their disposal.

Even then, a tricky fixture at Anfield awaits for Forest on the other side of the international break before a quickfire double header against Malmö and Brighton, requiring squad rotation to make sure Dyche has fresh options to choose from.

Stability is something that hasn’t always been easy to come by at the City Ground, and club owner Marinakis doesn’t wait around when it is time to make a decision, something he could again demonstrate in January.

Nottingham Forest set for intriguing Christos Mouzakitis pursuit

According to Tuttosport, Nottingham Forest are among a clutch of clubs that are keen on Olympiacos star Christos Mouzakitis, who is also wanted by Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa, AC Milan and Napoli.

Intriguingly, the Greek giants are owned by Marinakis, and he is said to be the one who will have the final say on his next destination amid their £30 million asking price for the 18-year-old midfielder.

Mouzakitis is described by Tuttosport as a player who’s ‘already one of the greatest talents in Greek football history’, with a clutch of Premier League sides taking notuce.

However, Forest may well have an edge given their close ties to the teenager via their owner.

Known to idolise AC Milan veteran Luka Modrić, Mouzakitis is a recipient of the TuttoSport Goldenboy Web Award and has registered two assists in 13 appearances this season across all competitions.

Nevertheless, he is under contract until 2029, and Olympiacos will hold the cards should a bidding war start to take place for his services, making it a tough ask for any suitors to land their man for anything less than a premium.

Either way, Marinakis could be the defining factor for Nottingham Forest in this one, and it may be worth keeping an eye to see what developments occur over the coming weeks and months.

Nottingham Forest could also be set to allow a surprise departure

The allrounder talks about how the franchise has unlocked his big-hitting ability and put him at ease amid superstars

Shashank Kishore14-Apr-2025Ramandeep Singh was picked by Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2022 as a potential replacement for Hardik Pandya. However, he was released after just playing five games when Hardik returned to the franchise from Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of IPL 2024.Ramandeep then put himself back in the reckoning after helping Punjab win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in November 2023. As it turned out, he didn’t need to chase opportunities – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had been tracking him and signed him ahead of IPL 2024.He impressed as a lower-order finisher for KKR, scoring 125 runs at a strike rate of 201.61 in nine innings during a title-winning season. Those performances earned him a retention ahead of IPL 2025. Ramandeep hasn’t made much impact this season so far, scoring 29 runs off 23 balls with a top score of 22, and he is yet to bowl.Related

From the hinterlands of Punjab to a raucous Wankhede

Stars in another sky – KKR's 2024 heroes sparkle for other teams

The gentle 'trundler' who turned Punjab's hat-trick hero

“It’s a confidence booster to be retained,” Ramandeep told ESPNcricinfo during the 2024-25 domestic season. “Prior to the auction, a lot of teams told me ‘don’t get retained, we’ll pick you, we’re ready to go up to 9-10 crore’. But loyalty matters a lot to me.”KKR gave me a platform when I needed it the most. I remember around the time retentions were to be decided, Venky [Mysore, KKR chief executive] sir called and said, ‘you’re in our retention plans, what are you thinking? It’s eventually your call – if you were to get into the auction, we’ll try and RTM’.”But I told him I’m happy to get retained. Once you’re in the auction, there’s no guarantee you’ll be in the same team, and I didn’t want to leave KKR. For me, a few crores less didn’t make a difference. I wanted to respect their word.”He credits the stint with KKR for opening up several areas of his game over the past two years.”Being picked by KKR has changed everything for me,” Ramandeep said. “I still remember that practice match at our pre-season camp before last year’s IPL. We needed six runs off two balls, and I cleared the ropes to win the game. GG [Gautam Gambhir, then team mentor] had a long chat with me afterwards.”The first thing he told me was: ‘we’ll back you no matter what’. And I’m glad I was able to back his belief. To be able to get to where I am, a lot of work has gone behind the scenes, and KKR has played a huge part. Abhishek Nayar [former assistant coach] conducted sessions tirelessly in Thane, where he’d make me bat three hours at one go in the nets at times. I’d never batted that long – nets or match.

“It was like a movie reel in my head. The sacrifices made by my parents, my early days in school cricket in Chandigarh, my domestic debut for Punjab, my IPL trials, the rejections…”Ramandeep Singh on getting his India cap from Hardik Pandya

“It helped me open up my game. I had power, but training with him taught me how to channel that power. And it helped me in the domestic season as well. It kicked in a lot of self-belief. There was an attitude shift in me, the fear element went away because of the backing. After last year’s IPL, I did well at Sher-e-Punjab [T20 tournament] and for India A [ACC Emerging Nations Cup].”It was during the semi-final of the ACC tournament in Al Amerat against Afghanistan that Ramandeep got another massive break: an India call-up for the four-match T20I series in South Africa. When the news of his selection came out, Ramandeep was trying to help India A chase down 206 from a precarious 100 for 5 in 12.4 overs.He gave Afghanistan a scare, hitting eight fours and two sixes during his 34-ball 64. Even though India A fell short, Ramandeep’s hitting abilities and a catch from earlier in the tournament in a game against Pakistan got widespread attention.”Apparently, after the match, my dad got a call from my coach saying ‘congrats’, and my dad was like, ‘for what, we’ve lost the semi-final’. He was unaware I’d been selected. When my coach broke the news of my India call-up, my dad started crying. Later, when I finished the game and switched on my phone, I had tons of messages, more than usual. [It was making more noise than usual]. It was an amazing feeling.”Ramandeep Singh hit his first ball in international cricket for six•AFP/Getty ImagesRamandeep didn’t need to wait long for his international debut, and hit a six off his first ball. As he was presented his maiden cap by Hardik, memories from his journey until that point came rushing back.”It was like a movie reel in my head,” he said. “The sacrifices made by my parents, my early days in school cricket in Chandigarh, my domestic debut for Punjab, my IPL trials, the rejections. Even my IPL debut where I walked out to bat with Dinesh Karthik keeping, Glenn Maxwell at slip and Virat Kohli staring at me from the covers.”I was so nervous before the match but just before going out, Sachin [Tendulkar] sir told me, ‘enjoy, this is your moment, your IPL debut won’t come again’. That helped me. I remembered all these moments.”At MI, Ramandeep had the opportunity to work with Kieron Pollard. At KKR, he gets to train and learn from Andre Russell, who he brings up unprompted.”Imagine someone of Russell’s stature coming with me for an optional net, and telling the coaches, ‘don’t worry about Raman, I’ve got him sorted’. He didn’t need to do that, but for him to tag along to training, watch from behind, give me his inputs – it’s a very big thing. We speak a lot on and off the field.

“The goal is to win championships for my country. The role I’ve been given in the team is to finish games, that’s what I prepare for, whether I’m playing for KKR, Punjab or India. I’ll always stay true to that”Ramandeep Singh

“The culture here at KKR has been like that. There’s no star culture, everyone’s treated equally, young or old. The same attention, the same facilities whether you’re a retained player or a rookie. Conversations are blunt, and in your face. No conversations behind your back. It’s also a light environment, where you focus on practice and give it your best in the match.”No star culture except when it comes to the superstar owner, Ramandeep says with a chuckle.”He [Shah Rukh Khan] is amazing. When he chats with you, it feels personal. There are so many layers to a conversation. He once spoke to me about self-belief and hard work; it has stayed with me . He spoke of a time when he first came to Bombay, how he had to start from scratch.”He said, ‘I didn’t have a godfather. I wasn’t the best looking, I wasn’t the most talented actor. I wasn’t the best dancer. All he had was hard work. He said, ‘that’s the only way you can stay on top; distractions will keep coming, but what stays with you is the hard work – don’t ever leave that’.”Ramandeep wants to contribute with the ball as well. There’s also an inherent belief that he can be a “big match winner”. “Definitely working on my bowling, I want to be a proper allrounder. that’s my aim. The goal is to win championships for my country. The role I’ve been given in the team is to finish games, that’s what I prepare for, whether I’m playing for KKR, Punjab or India. I’ll always stay true to that.”

Bangladesh and West Indies are the favourites, but if Pakistan raise their game at home, the calculations could change

Firdose Moonda08-Apr-2025The last stretch of the road to India begins in Pakistan, where six teams will compete for two spots at the Women’s ODI World Cup later this year over the next few days.All 15 matches will be held in Lahore, between the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground, which will host women’s internationals for the first time. Lahore was chosen as it will not have any PSL games taking place there for the duration of this event, and yes, that means the tournament clashes with not one but two of the biggest men’s franchise competitions (the IPL and the PSL). If that means there’s too much cricket to keep an eye on, we’ve got the cheat sheet to keep you covered.To recap: six teams – hosts India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka – have already confirmed their places at the World Cup by virtue of their positions on the Women’s Championship table played between 2022 and 2025. The four other teams in that competition – Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies – will play in the qualifier, along with the two next highest teams on the ODI rankings at the cut-off date of October 28, 2024. Those two teams are Scotland and Thailand, who finished 11th and 12th.The tournament takes the format of a league, in which each team will play the other five and the top two will qualify for the World Cup. Unlike the men’s ODI World Cup qualifiers, there is no final, which is without any context in any case.Bangladesh enter the event as the most improved women’s side over the Women’s Championship cycle•Getty Images

Bangladesh and West Indies start as favourites

After a maiden ODI World Cup appearance in 2022, Bangladesh missed out on automatic qualification by the narrowest of margins. They finished on the same number of points as New Zealand but with a lower net run-rate and one fewer win, which pushed them into the qualifier. Their captain Nigar Sultana previously told ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast that she hoped to avoid the tension and pressure of a qualifier through more consistent performances, but two series wins out of eight, over Ireland and Pakistan, were not enough to do that.Still, Bangladesh enter the event as the most improved women’s side over the cycle with a particularly strong and varied bowling attack. Among them is the fifth-highest wicket-taker of the women’s championship overall: left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, who could be the player to watch in Pakistan. With a left-arm seamer in Fariha Trishna, right-arm seamer Marufa Akter, and three legspinners – Fahima Khatun, Shorna Akter and Rabeya Khan – Bangladesh will be difficult for most line-ups to negotiate. And given their quality, they would be disappointed if they don’t secure one of the two spots.The same could be said for West Indies, who were semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup but have found themselves in the qualifiers now. In their women’s championship campaign, they only beat their opponents who are at the qualifiers – Bangladesh, Ireland and Pakistan – which may bode well for them for this event but is also an indication of the gap between them and the top sides.Another concern is how overly reliant West Indies have become on one player: their captain Hayley Matthews. She finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer and ninth-highest wicket-taker in the women’s championship, where West Indies ended eighth, and she needs some support for West Indies to go further. On paper, West Indies have the personnel. Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharak and Chinelle Henry all provide experience, while Zaida James, Janillia Glasgow, Mandy Mangru and Ashmini Munisar make up the younger crop. If they all click, West Indies should be shoo-ins for India, and anything less is likely to prompt severe introspection.On Fatima Sana’s young shoulders rests Pakistan’s hopes now•Getty Images

The curious case of Pakistan

As hosts, Pakistan should be able to take advantage of familiar conditions to push for a World Cup spot, but recent form doesn’t inspire confidence. They have not won an ODI since November 2023, and have since had a change in captaincy from the experienced Nida Dar to the potential of young Fatima Sana. At just 23, Sana is also their premier allrounder and, like Matthews, she needs others to stand up.Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza and Aliya Riaz are key with the bat, while Diana Baig’s return from injury bolsters the seam department. Pakistan have a solid spin contingent in left-armers Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu, and could challenge Bangladesh and West Indies for a World Cup place. They have already beaten one of them, West Indies, by five wickets, in a warm-up game on Monday.Should Pakistan qualify, it will complicate the World Cup schedule. After India and Pakistan agreed a hybrid structure for all ICC events starting with the Champions Trophy, Pakistan’s matches must be played outside India, who have announced five host cities for the event. It is likely Pakistan’s games will be in either Sri Lanka or the UAE.

Can Ireland redeem themselves?

Ireland have not qualified for an ODI World Cup since 2005, which is too long ago to make much material difference, but they do have recent World Cup pedigree. They have appeared at four T20 tournaments, most recently at the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa, but missed out on the 2024 edition after a shock defeat to Scotland in the qualifier.

Should either of them make it to the World Cup, expect questions to be raised about their inclusion in future editions of the FTP

Unlike Scotland, Ireland are part of the FTP, and would consider themselves Europe’s second-best side (after England) and have the results to show for that. Since the last World Cup, Ireland have played 11 series and won four – against Netherlands, Scotland, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, – which suggests the quality is there. The question facing them is whether they have the ability to turn over the bigger sides consistently enough to start making regular World Cup appearances, and they would hope to start here.

Scotland, Thailand aim to be first-timers

Neither Scotland nor Thailand are part of the women’s FTP or championship, neither have been to an ODI World Cup, and both have little experience in the format. Scotland have played 17 official ODIs, and Thailand nine. But they could be the Cinderella story of the qualifiers.Scotland have some experience of what it takes to get to a global tournament after beating Ireland to qualify for the T20 World Cup, where they were thoroughly outplayed but won hearts. They will have Ireland in their sights again after beating them in an ODI 2023. Thailand, too, have World Cup experience. They were at the 2020 T20 World Cup and have 11 players from that tournament in this squad. Should either of them make it to the World Cup, expect questions to be raised about their inclusion in future editions of the FTP.

This improving Manchester United side was given more than just a fresh lick of paint over the summer, with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in particular, breathing new life into Ruben Amorim’s ranks.

That said, for all the delight over Mbeumo, following his return of six goals in his first 12 United games, a key problem still needs to be solved – central midfield.

Casemiro, to his credit, has silenced the doubters amid his recent resurgence, although the Brazilian’s inability to last the full 90, alongside the lack of an adequate replacement for him, is becoming a growing problem.

Of the 20 goals conceded across the Premier League and Carabao Cup, 15 of those have come when the 33-year-old was not on the pitch, with Manuel Ugarte’s diminishing status highlighted by reports that he received a dressing down from his former Sporting CP boss at Carrington late last season.

With the more attack-minded Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo the only other senior central midfielders in the first-team ranks, hopes of the Red Devils kicking on surely rest in that department being addressed in 2026 – be it in January or next summer.

Adam Wharton, rising star at Crystal Palace, remains a leading target to fill that void – but is he the only solution?

Latest on Man Utd's interest in Adam Wharton

The frustration surrounding United’s errant recruitment in recent years is perhaps best pinpointed in the case of Wharton, with respected journalist Andy Mitten having revealed that the Old Trafford side were offered the chance to sign the elegant left-footer from Blackburn Rovers, prior to his move to Selhurst Park.

Unfortunately, the powers that be didn’t appear to see the merit in prising a relatively unproven teenage talent from the Championship, with Wharton going on to join Palace for a fee of around £20m in the 2024 winter window.

That investment has paid off handsomely for the Eagles, with the 21-year-old now a central figure in a side that claimed FA Cup glory last term, resulting in claims that the south London club had placed a £100m plus price tag on his head over the summer.

Amid parallel interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, reports in the recent window did suggest that Amorim and INEOS were keen on potentially reviving their prior interest in the England international, although the £250m outlay on their four actual signings likely put paid to that transfer chase.

Now, with January looming, United could go back again for the in-demand talent, with reports last month indicating that they are keen to steal a march on Real Madrid by making a £60m offer for his services.

Wharton, in an interview with The Athletic’s David Ornstein, has addressed such speculation, wisely suggesting that he pays little attention to the rumours:

Whether he actually wants to join or not, a problem still remains with the price tag that Palace could demand. With that in mind, might an in-house solution be the best bet for United’s sake?

Man Utd's answer to Wharton at Carrington

In the darkest of days in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, each manager has found a shining light from the academy set-up, be it Adnan Januzaj under David Moyes, to Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo under Erik ten Hag.

Surprisingly, Amorim – who helped to kickstart the career of 17-year-old Geovany Quenda in Lisbon – has thus far refrained from dipping into the youth ranks too readily, with this season yet to see the new boy wonder emerge.

Chido Obi, for what it’s worth, did make eight appearances last term amid United’s centre-forward injury crisis, although the Danish teenager hasn’t been seen since, with promising full-back Harry Amass also allowed to go out on loan after making his senior debut at the back end of 2024/25.

Tyler Fredricson

vs Wolves

20/04/25

Harry Amass

vs Leicester

16/03/25

Chido Obi

vs Spurs

16/02/25

Toby Collyer

vs Liverpool

01/09/24

Ethan Wheatley

vs Sheff Utd

24/04/24

Omari Forson

vs Wolves

01/02/2024

*in Premier League only

The lack of European involvement has been a factor in Amorim’s decision to overlook the young crop, with little need to rotate his side right now – not least amid this five-game unbeaten run.

Central midfield is one area the Portuguese coach does need to quickly address, however, hence why turning to a figure like Jim Thwaites could prove to be a masterstroke.

Still only 17, the dynamic midfielder is of slight frame and stature, although he has certainly caught the eye at Carrington of late, with recent comparisons even being made to the likes of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.

Like Wharton, he isn’t an imposing physical specimen, yet Thwaites makes up for that with his eye-catching technical prowess, with analyst Ben Mattinson – now a scout for Serie A side Como – suggesting that he looks as if he’s “stepped out [of] La Masia”.

La Masia remains the birthplace of the best and brightest that Barcelona has to offer, from Xavi to Gavi, the Catalan outfit certainly know how to cultivate the next midfield star of the future.

Like those at Camp Nou – as well as Wharton – Thwaites has that ability to collect the ball from a deep-lying role in between the centre-backs, before either producing a progressive carry or pass to spring United into life.

Already this season, the rising star has scored twice and provided one assist from his ten U18 Premier League outings, as per Transfermarkt, a respectable haul considering he has operated as a number six in each of those appearances.

The Bolton-born maestro – who is set to turn 18 next month – is certainly not as far along in his development as Wharton, although amid the prospect of having to fork out over £100m for the latter man, INEOS could well do with starting to develop their own future superstars instead.

At a club renowned for its academy work in the past, United need to get things back on track again. Thwaites, while it’s still early days, might be the best place to start.

Not Mainoo: Amorim can replace Casemiro with "Pogba-esque" star at Man Utd

Manchester United could have a wildcard solution to their midfield woes…

ByRobbie Walls Nov 13, 2025

Talat scored 32 in 30 balls and took two wickets in the high-stakes game against SL

Danyal Rasool24-Sep-20252:09

Chopra: Talat holding one end up was important

Pakistan allrounder Hussain Talat launched a passionate defence of his utility to his side with the bat, saying there were “only four or five” players who could play T20 cricket in the middle order. Speaking after guiding his side to victory against Sri Lanka in a game where defeat would have put them on the brink of elimination, he called T20I middle order batting “the hardest of skills”.”We keep saying that if we need a middle order player they need to know how to be both aggressive and have the ability to anchor,” Talat said at the press conference after the game. “But the chances of failure with that kind of cricket are high. Unfortunately, if you don’t perform a few games or series, the media and fans immediately go after you and you’re out of the team suddenly.”I think the middle order is the hardest place to play in T20 cricket because you’re required to play all kinds of cricket. And because it’s difficult, I think you should have more chances in that position. And players who can play in the middle order are very rare in Pakistan, perhaps four or five. And even they don’t want to play there.”Perhaps, given the difficult couple of days he – and the rest of the Pakistan middle order have had, that is understandable. On Sunday, Pakistan’s descent from superiority in their clash against India can be traced almost to the moment Talat walked out to the crease in the 11th over. Until then, Pakistan had sped along at nine an over, but when Saim Ayub was dismissed and Talat was surprisingly sent in to bat, all that changed.Talat, who hadn’t played any games in the UAE in the month Pakistan have been here until that day, looked rusty. He scratched around for 11 balls and scored just 10 as India snatched momentum away from Pakistan. Just 38 came in the seven overs that began when Talat walked out to the crease, the lowest for that period of the game all tournament. India would ultimately cruise to victory, with much of Pakistan’s ire directed at Talat and his fellow middle-order batters. It was, Talat said, why he stays away from social media, but admitted it still affected him.Related

• Abrarcadabra – the four-over spell that left Sri Lanka stupefied

• Nawaz and Talat trump Sri Lanka in nervy chase

• Asalanka: Sri Lanka have to 'get combinations right ahead of the World Cup'

On Tuesday, it was a different story. With a match situation more conducive to his abilities, he found his side floundering rather than flourishing, and anchored the chase to ensure they did not let victory slip from their grasp.”We’d lost so no one was feeling good,: Talat said. “The people wanted us to win, and we did what we could against India, too. But there was no extra pressure before today’s game. There was plenty of criticism which we were trying to avoid and which isn’t good for the team. But it was crucial to win today.”In pursuit of 134, that victory looked almost assured when the opened darted to the perfect start, Pakistan helping themselves to 43 in the first five overs. But a two-wicket sixth over from Maheesh Theekshana triggered a collapse where Pakistan lost four wickets for 13 runs, and Sri Lanka were ascendant.”The pitch was a bit sticky, but improved in the second innings,” Talat said. “We lost a few wickets quickly and that put us under a lot of pressure. And then we were running out of batting pairs which required us to take the game deep.”Sri Lanka tightened the screws further when Dushmantha Chameera cleaned up Mohammad Haris as he slogged wildly, reducing Pakistan to 80 for 5, still 54 runs adrift. With the asking rate under control – at exactly six an over, Talat decided to do something not many in the Pakistan camp talk about much these days – batting circumspectly.”In the group, when we talk about batting, it’s always about playing aggressive. But when I went in, a couple of wickets fell. My gut feeling was the only way to win after that was to take the game deep. When Nawaz hit Hasaranga for two fours, he said he’d go for his shots and for me to anchor. And that worked nicely for both of us.”Pakistan saw off the dangerous Theekshana aware that Wanindu Hasaranga, too, would eventually have to bowl out. But when the allrounder came in for his final two over, he went searching desperately, and that opened up scoring options. Nawaz hit him for two fours in his third when he dropped the ball short, and with the target rushing up to meet them, Talat helped himself to two more in Hasaranga’s last to drive the final nail into Sri Lanka’s coffin. In the end, the runs came in a hurry, with Mohammad Nawaz walloping Chameera for three sixes in five balls as Pakistan cantered to the finish in the 18th over.A win can make all the difference, particularly for Talat who has spent far longer out of the side looking in than most in this group. His recent inclusion into the side has only come after more than four years out in the international wilderness, where he feels people haven’t quite appreciated how hard he’s needed to work to scrap his way back in.”We’re hopeful. We’ve been playing T20 cricket for four months or so now, since Bangladesh came to Pakistan in May. Players are being backed in this group; in the past, players used to play a couple of matches and then be omitted. Now they’re getting an extended run like we see elsewhere in international cricket.”We’re two games away from the trophy, and we believe we can win it.”

Essex 325 for 5 (Allison 98, Pepper 54*) drew with WarwickshireEssex virtually secured their Rothesay County Championship Division One status as their match with Warwickshire ended in a rain-ruined draw at Edgbaston. No play was possible due to rain on the final day, meaning that three of the four days were completely blank.Essex collected ten points from the draw, putting them pretty much safe from relegation as two of the teams below them – Yorkshire and Durham – meet in next week’s final round of games. It would now take an extraordinary combination of results and bonus points to drag Essex through the trapdoor with Worcestershire.It was a sodden and sorry scene at Edgbaston as Warwickshire’s home season came to an anti-climatic close. After high winds prevented play on the first day and rain did so on the third, persistent drizzle overnight and on the fourth morning again left conditions unplayable. Essex were denied the chance to resume from the 325 for 5 that they build on the second day.Tom Westley’s side at least took a solid ten points from the draw – a more productive return than from the drawn encounter between these teams in their inaugural Championship meeting at Edgbaston in 1895. After three days of hard work and effort, the points gained from that game, in which, incidentally 21 players made their Championship debuts, were Warwickshire 0 Essex 0.

Nine Hong Kong batters finished with single-digit scores, going down by 94 runs in the Asia Cup opener

Alagappan Muthu09-Sep-20251:36

Mukund: Dropped catches a concern for Afghanistan

There was a contest between man and nature to see who was hotter and in the end, try as the elements could, they couldn’t match Azmatullah Omarzai’s fire. Even in 41°C heat, he burned brighter, scoring Afghanistan’s fastest T20I fifty and just kept going from there.Omarzai was responsible for one of two blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run-outs, which, coming on the back of a Hong Kong fielding performance that included three dropped catches, was cricket working a little too hard to highlight the gulf between the two sides. Full Member Afghanistan made 188 for 6. It was 94 too many for their Associate nation opposition.Sediqullah’s three livesSediqullah Atal looked a real good player. Stood nice and tall in his set-up, seemed competent playing shots off both front foot and the back foot, and crucially, he was able to cope with the lack of pace in Abu Dhabi. He is only 24, but already showing signs of what players more experienced than him are known for. The bit between the ears. Atal was 26 off 17 with five fours at the end of the powerplay when the other end had contributed only 14 off 19 balls with one six.Hong Kong slowed Atal down with spin but were never able to capitalise on the pressure they created. Yasim Murtaza gave him two lives – dropping him on 4 off 3 in the first over, then on 46 off 38 off his own bowling and finally had to watch Ehsan Khan put down a clanger just after Atal had raised his third T20I fifty. A man who should’ve been dismissed in the first over batted through the innings to score 73 off 52.Azmatullah the game changerAfghanistan were 119 for 4 after 16 overs. Hong Kong’s spinners – Murtaza in particular – provided a challenge that is rarely seen in modern T20 cricket. He pulled pace off the ball, going as low as 70kph at times to deny scoring opportunities. Kinchit Shah, bowling from the other end, got the wickets. The five overs they bowled between the 10th and the 14th yielded two wickets for just 24 runs.As good as that period was for Hong Kong, it also brought Omarzai to the crease and he was so game aware. The fast bowlers returned in the 17th over and it was go time. The next 18 balls yielded 60 runs. Omarzai went 6, 6, 6 and 4 against Ayush Shukla to bring up his half-century off just 20 deliveries. From the simple, clear-the-front-leg slog to the cheeky ramp past the keeper, the Afghanistan allrounder showed impressive range on a difficult batting pitch.2:26

Mukund impressed by Afghanistan’s on-field trial

Hong Kong punishedHong Kong’s mishaps continued with bat in hand as well. They gave up a wicket for no reason – and one run on the board – when Anshuman Rath was ruled caught behind but replays showed several inches of daylight between bat and ball. Zeeshan Ali, the non-striker, had seemingly persuaded Rath from challenging umpire Virender Sharma’s decision. Then they had to watch as Rashid Khan ran out Nizakat Khan for 0 off 0 balls because he took too long to realise there was no run off a Babar Hayat hit to cover.Two overs – and two dropped catches later, apparently Afghanistan were happy to give themselves a handicap – Azmatullah had Kalhan Challu run-out off his own bowling when the batter strayed out of his crease after pushing the ball down the pitch. The Hong Kong captain had high hopes for Challu at the toss, instead his wicket for 4 off 8 was a cruel reminder of the quality of cricket at this level.Hong Kong went joint-second for most wickets (four) lost by a team in the powerplay in the men’s T20 Asia Cup. Only two of their batters got to double-digits. None of them managed to score at a run a ball. Their focus at 63 for 6 had shifted to playing the overs out and they did that to finish on 94 for 9.

Liverpool scouts have just been spotted keeping an eye on a defensive star in the Champions League, according to recent reports, as they set their sights on a transfer battle against Arsenal.

The Reds’ defensive frailties were on show once again against Manchester City at the Etihad, and they’re fortunate that it’s Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal which has stolen the headlines. For the umpteenth time this season, the champions came undone all too easily as Pep Guardiola eased to a 3-0 victory in his 1000th game as a manager.

Arne Slot, whilst reflecting on the defeat, took the time to have his say on Van Dijk’s disallowed header – telling reporters that he believes Andy Robertson was not interfering with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s view.

PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has since issued a response to Liverpool’s complaints, saying that it was “not unreasonable” to rule Van Dijk’s effort out on Sunday afternoon.

Alas, as the argument continues, Liverpool remain in a difficult position and as low as eighth in the Premier League. No one saw it coming from a side who comfortably strode towards the title last season, but Slot must now find a permanent solution.

Not Wirtz or Isak: Liverpool's "nervous wreck" at risk of becoming Nunez 2.0

Liverpool have fallen by the wayside under Arne Slot’s leadership this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 12, 2025

Whether that means returning to the transfer market is the big question, especially in search of defensive reinforcements.

Liverpool and Arsenal scouts watching Wilfried Singo

As reported by Turkish outlet Sabah, Liverpool scouts were spotted watching Singo in Galatasaray’s dominant 3-0 win against Ajax in the Champions League last week.

The Gunners also had officials present to check on the right-back’s progress as they seek support for Jurrien Timber, with Ben White’s injury issues making him an unreliable deputy for the Dutchman.

And the Ivorian played his part as his side kept a clean sheet and made it three wins from four Champions League games, in a run of form that includes a win against Liverpool.

The Reds felt Singo’s quality in full as he kept Cody Gakpo quiet down their left-hand side and Galatasaray held on to secure a famous 1-0 victory at the end of September.

Singo enjoyed an excellent game against the Reds, losing possession just once, making four recoveries and winning over half of his aerial duels. Gakpo, meanwhile, was limited to just three touches in the Galatasaray box and made just one pass into the final third.

The 24-year-old has been on the rise for a few years now and interest from both Arsenal and Liverpool should come as little surprise. Described as “intelligent” by former AS Monaco teammate Thilo Kehrer, Singo could be destined for the Premier League in 2026 in what would be the biggest move of his career so far.

Liverpool's "generational" Doku regen is destined to take the #11 from Salah

يخوض منتخب قطر مباراة قوية وهامة أمام منافسه سوريا في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما اليوم ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وتقام المباراة بين قطر وسوريا على أرضية استاد خليفة الدولي، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثانية من مرحلة المجموعات لـ بطولة كأس العرب.

منتخب سوريا يدخل مواجهة قطر المقبلة وهو منتشٍ بالفوز في آخر مبارياته بكأس العرب 2025، بعدما تغلب على منتخب تونس بهدف دون رد في افتتاح مشواره بالبطولة، ويحصد أول 3 نقاط له.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعات كأس العرب 2025 بعد نهاية الجولة الأولى

أما منتخب قطر فيخوض اللقاء بعد خسارته في آخر مباراة له بالبطولة أمام منتخب فلسطين بنتيجة 1-0، وفرضت عليه ضرورة التعويض أمام سوريا للحفاظ على حظوظه في المنافسة على التأهل. موعد مباراة قطر وسوريا اليوم في كأس العرب

تقام مباراة قطر وسوريا يوم الخميس 4 ديسمبر 2025، وتنطلق صافرة البداية في تمام الساعة 07:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 08:00 مساءً بتوقيت قطر والسعودية وسوريا. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة قطر وسوريا اليوم

من المقرر أن تُنقل مباراة قطر وسوريا عبر قنوات الكأس 1، beIN Sports  المفتوحة، أبو ظبي الرياضية، دبي الرياضية، منصة شاشا.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras venceu o Cuiabá por 2 a 0 neste domingo (5) e Abel Ferreira falou sobre o brilho de seus jovens jogadores que mais uma vez ajudaram o Verdão a vencer uma partida importante pela maior competição de futebol do nosso país.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAssista aos melhores momentos de Cuiabá 0x2 Palmeiras, pelo BrasileirãoPalmeiras05/05/2024PalmeirasEstêvão entra, brilha e garante vitória do Palmeiras contra o CuiabáPalmeiras05/05/2024Fora de CampoEndrick fica inconformado após ser substituído em Palmeiras x CuiabáFora de Campo05/05/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Abel Ferreira celebrou o resultado e a oportunidade de ser o treinador de Luís Guilherme, Estevão e Endrick, três jovens canhotos que não param de encantar a torcida do Palmeiras com tamanha maturidade e talento.

– É um prazer ser treinador desses moleques, vou desfrutar enquanto eles estiverem aqui conosco. Realmente o Endrick é uma máquina, um moleque tão jovem e com tanta alegria dentro dele, infelizmente vai ter que nos deixar, saiu com os braços abertos, chateado por ter errado aquele lance, eu digo que ele é um fominha simpático, nós gostamos dele, ele sabe que por onde vá, que ele vai levar um bocadinho de nós – disse Abel Ferreira.

continua após a publicidade

Abel que no meio de semana pediu pra Leila Pereira segurar Estevão até 2027, hoje foi sincero e disse que vai ser difícil o Palmeiras não perder em breve mais uma joia criada na sua categoria de base.

– Eu sei que eu peço pra Leila não vendê-los, mas é impossível. Vamos desfrutar deles enquanto é tempo, vou aproveitar enquanto eles estiverem aqui conosco – finalizou o treinador.

continua após a publicidade

O Palmeiras agora vira a chave para a Libertadores e o torcedor alviverde sonha com que Abel Ferreira escale Luís Guilherme, Estevão e Endrick como titulares no Uruguai.